With the economy in flux and the job market stagnant, more and more people are considering ways to continue their education and set themselves apart in the marketplace. I provide insight on how individuals can succeed in this new economy. I'm founder and CEO of Stratus Prep, an internationally-recognized leader in law, business, and graduate school test preparation and admissions counseling. I also recently founded Stratus Careers, a comprehensive career counseling firm. With many years of experience and success, I provide personalized test preparation and admissions counseling to hundreds of law and business school applicants each year. Prior to launching Stratus Prep, I worked domestically and internationally for McKinsey & Company, Lehman Brothers, Mercer Management Consulting, and the Boston law firm of Sullivan & Worcester. I achieved my Masters in Business Administration with Highest Honors (Baker Scholar) from Harvard Business School and my Juris Doctor, cum laude from Harvard Law School. See reviews for Stratus Prep.

The Future of Work - Entrepreneurship

With recent jobs reports showing a glimmer of hope, professionals from all generations are gearing up to seize the next big career opportunity after years of stagnation. But, over the last half decade, the path to career success has been fundamentally redefined, and more and more, professionals of all ages and from diverse industries are finding that an entrepreneurial mindset is a prerequisite to advance.

So how did we get to this point? And what can you do to stay ahead of the curve?

Over the past few years, there has been a fundamental shift in the economic paradigm. Previous generations generally built “lifelong” careers at one company or at least in one particular field. In many cases, that career demanded that they simply meet the expectations of their bosses in order to advance. The result: Even relatively passive employees could find significant career success.

However, today’s workplace is dramatically different, and many of the strategies that worked in the past are no longer viable. While the economy may recover significantly in the coming years, we need to all redefine our approach to work. Going forward, we must all be entrepreneurs (even those who work within large corporations).

Take my career path as an example. I started out in on a very traditional path. I attained both a law degree and an MBA from Harvard University with honors. I worked domestically and internationally for well-known organizations like McKinsey & Company, Lehman Brothers, Mercer Management Consulting and the law firm of Sullivan & Worcester.

Then about three years ago, I made the biggest decision of my life. I walked away from that traditional path, leaving Wall Street behind, to start my own venture – Stratus Prep. Given my passion for education and mentorship, I identified an opportunity to create value, and I seized it. The choice to leave my lucrative (and then stable) job at Lehman Brothers was a huge risk. But in order to make this career shift, I had to trust myself. I had to have confidence that by creating value for my clients, I could survive and eventually excel professionally.

These last few years of growing a business from the ground up – from tutoring students at the dining room table of my apartment to serving clients worldwide from our beautiful Manhattan offices – have been the most rewarding of my life. I have taken control of my destiny and discovered the following secret to success in the “New Economy” along the way:

To be successful today, whether you work for a large company or are striking out on your own, you must be entrepreneurial.

But being entrepreneurial does not simply mean starting a new venture. Instead, it means taking responsibility for creating value for your firm and your clients. It means being active, not passive. It means owning your career and building the life you want for you and your family. It’s not a time for “playing it safe.”

In this column, I’ll provide insights on the secrets to academic and professional success in the “New Economy” that can be applied to a number of industries. Use this blog as “The Launching Pad” for your career and stay tuned for more information, anecdotes and actionable advice to help you take your career to the next level.

I hope that this column will be a conversation, so feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section, email me at Shawn.oconnor@stratusprep.com or engage with me on Twitter @shawnpoconnor.

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